Fine Art

Learning from a diverse range of practising artists, you’ll graduate with an extensive portfolio of creative, practical achievements.

Being part of our collaborative community will allow you to progress into postgraduate study or a professional career in a wide range of creative practices.

Working in our dedicated studios and 3D workshops, you will develop a broad range of technical and practical artistic skills. These include drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, digital technologies, photography, video, performance, text and sound.

In our creative community, you’ll explore the practical and conceptual possibilities of a range of different forms and media. We do this together through four distinct ways of making and thinking: Drawing, Proactivity, Studio and Curiosity. Through these, the course develops entrepreneurial and inventive creative practitioners.

The course is sustained by set scheduled contact time and independent learning hours. For 30-credit modules, you will have 72 scheduled contact hours and 228 independent learning hours. For 15-credit modules, you will have 36 scheduled contact hours and 114 independent learning hours.

In your first year, you will establish a making practice trying out a multitude of different techniques, and learn how to write critically about art.

In your second year, you will develop your making practice, learn how to theoretically frame your methods, and work with industry practitioners to understand the link between your making and conceptual contemporary debate.

In your third year, you will learn how to sustain your making, undertake a practice-based dissertation, work towards your degree show, and develop essential understanding of working in creative industries.

Integrated foundation year

This course is available to study with an integrated foundation year – an extra, introductory year at the beginning of the full degree. If you don’t meet the stated entry requirements or you’re returning to education, it could be a great option that enables you to study this course.

As well as an introduction to your subject, it will help you to develop valuable study skills, and communication, teamwork and problem-solving techniques, giving you the confidence and skills set you need to progress.

If you’re applying to study as an international student, an integrated foundation year can also support you to improve your English language skills alongside your studies.

To apply for this course with an integrated foundation year, select the ‘With foundation year’ study type from the options at the top of this page before clicking ‘Apply’.

Emphasising both traditional methods and contemporary practices, our curriculum prepares students for creative working lives, integrating innovative art pedagogy and entrepreneurship.

All our second year Fine Art students participate in a work placement and work with visiting professional artists to develop practical workshops. We have placements available in a wide range of creative careers, including art therapy and prescription, education, artists’ studios, theatre and film, museums and galleries.

Our course has enabled our graduates to move into exciting careers. Some examples include becoming internationally recognised artists, curators, art tutors in primary, secondary, and higher education, and postgraduate researchers.